Winter Vacation Means Putting the Brakes on School Work...And in Traffic

CONCORD, N.H.--Feb. 2, 20040, 2004--Many New Hampshire students and their families will hit the roads next week for winter vacation, only to discover that between home and their winter getaway stands traffic congestion. A driver in New Hampshire now spends on average 28.3 more hours per year in traffic than one decade ago - the equivalent of 3.5 vacation days! A recent study on New Hampshire's roads by the Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization The Road Information Program (TRIP) shows that vehicle traffic will increase by 40 percent by 2025 to 17.2 billion vehicle miles of travel. Investments in our highways, roads and bridges will become even more essential to maintaining the safety and quality of life of New Hampshire residents.

A Safer Road to Tomorrow, a group comprised of leading public and private safety, transportation, construction, law enforcement and business organizations in New Hampshire, is lending its voice to ensure that smart and steady investments in the state's transportation infrastructure are planned as New Hampshire grows. Continued modernization of the state's roads and bridges is crucial in providing safer - and less congested - mobility for those who live, work and vacation in the Granite State.

Partners of A Safer Road to Tomorrow include: Safety & Health Council of NH, Business and Industry Association of NH, NH Association of Chiefs of Police, NH Lodging & Restaurant Association, and Associated General Contractors of NH. To learn more about this important issue, visit our Web site at www.saferoadsnh.com.